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London Trip Report - Day 6 - May 11, 2005
Today we got up at 8AM. We had coffee and pastries at the cafe downstairs at the hotel. We got to the Tower of London around 9:30. Unfortunately, I left my camera at the hotel. Linda had hers though so we do have some pictures at least.
We took the audio tour and then we took the walking tour. The tour guide was dressed in the traditional "Beefeater" garb. He was really great. He kept us laughing the whole way. The "White Tower" was amazing. There were so many guns in there. I also got to see the crown jewels. It was a very impressive collection...including the world's largest diamond.
I lost Linda along the way but knew she'd given up on finding me when I turned in my audio tour equipment. The woman was supposed to tell me that Linda had gone to The Globe Theatre to wait on me but she just told me Linda had left.
I went to Lescester Square and got a half price ticket for Blood Brothers. Then I came back to hotel so I could get my camera. I took the Underground to Westminister station. I got wonderful sandwich at the food market across from Big Ben. It was had tuna, cucumber, field greens, and mayo on malted bread. Yummy. I ate than, then went to Westminister Abbey.
Westminister Abbey was really something to see. It's like an indoor graveyard! So many people are burried in the floor and in crypts around the outer walls. It's unbelievable. Some of the famous people burried there are Charles Dickens, Handel (the famous composer), and T.S. Elliot (the famous poet). This is the church where Princess Diana's funeral was held.
I caught the train to London Bridge station, then walked to Southwark Cathedral. There is a memorial to Shakespeare inside. He was a member of the parish. It is a much smaller church but still very interesting to see. In the front of the church, there were four alters to pray for different things. One of them was for victims and current sufferers of AIDS. On the alter was a flower arrangement that someone had left there. I read the note and it made me want to cry. It was written to a person who had passed away and said something to the effect of "Two years ago you left us...". As I left the chuch, that lingered in my mind.
I continued on...went to The Monument and climbed all 311 stairs...what a great view...and it was cool up there after working up a sweat walking up. It is very narrow walking up. You have to turn sideways for someone to pass you.
I caught the Underground to St. Pauls station. At that station is St. Paul's Cathedral. I arrived only to find that it was closed. The reason...the Queen was there for a special program! They had a program for tsunami victims. Security had everything around there blocked off.
I took the Underground back to Piccadilly Circus. There is a huge Virgin Megastore there. I was able to get some cds that are not available in the US. I then ame back to the hotel and changed to go to the theatre.
Blood Brothers was an awesome show. It is not a huge show by any means but I really enjoyed it. It's actually a trajedy. It stars out with two brothers lying dead on the stage...then by the end they're laying there again. You know how it came to be by then though. The ending was really something. There was a lot of action right around me, literally in the audience. A policeman with an electronic megaphone was 2 rows behind me hollering "hold your fire!"...that sure got my attention. Then the last song is "Tell Me It's Not True". The mother starts out singing it, then one by one each castmembers comes out and joins in. If you don't have a tear in your eye after this then you must not have any emotion in you...I tell ya!!!
I came back to the hotel. Linda and I discussed our adventures of the day for about 30 minutes. Then I went to Bolans on Old Compton Street for a late dinner again. This time I went by myself. I ended up meeting some people and they even invited me to a party on Saturday night. I'm not sure if I'll go or not but is sure was nice to hang out with them.
It's now about 2:30AM and I'm exhausted.
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A view of Big Ben and The London Eye from Westminster Abbey. |
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The Eastern end of Westminster Abbey. St. Margaret's Church on the right. |
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The Northern entrance of Westminster Abbey. |
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Looking towards the Western end of Westminster Abbey from the Northern side. |
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A closeup of the Westminster Abbey's many exterior stone beams and the clock tower. |
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Another closeup of the Westminster Abby's exterior. |
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Another closeup of Westminster Abby's exterior. It's impossible to grasp how large this church is with pictures. |
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A statue of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus over the doors at one of the entrances to Westminster Abby. |
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This red granite column stands outside of Westminster Abbey and Westminster School in remembrance of the school students who died during Russian and Indian wars (1854-1859). It is topped by a statue of Victory |
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A closer view of the statue on top of the column outside Westminster School. |
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The clock and bell towers of Westminster Abbey. |
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The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre across from Westminster Abbey. |
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Big Ben. |
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A statue at the entrance of London Bridge. |
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A statue at the entrance of London Bridge. |
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A view looking up at the steps that take you up The Monument. There are 311 spiral steps, 202 feet up. |
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The Monument observation deck. |
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The beautiful view of The Thames and Tower Bridge from The Monument. |
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A view of the many tall buildings in the banking centre of london. The Swiss Bank building has been nicknamed "The Gherkin" and I'm sure you can see why. |
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The view looking down from The Monument. |
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Another view of the London skyline from The Monument. |
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Another view of the London skyline from The Monument. You can see the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in the center. |
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Another view of the London skyline from The Monument. You can see the London Eye in the distance. |
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The Monument was built by Sir Christopher Wren. From here you can see St. Magnus the Martyr church which he also built. |
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Another shot of The Thames and Tower Bridge from The Monument. The building along the center with the curved glass is city hall. |
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A view of the steps looking down from the top of The Monument. I think this looks a lot like the inside of a shell. |
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Someone took pity on me and took a picture of me on top of The Monument. I'm looking a little rough and tired from all this walking! |
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Looking through the concrete window opening out of the base of The Monument. |
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Heading back down to the London Underground (aka The Tube). |
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A park bench near St. Pauls Cathedral engraved "City of London" with pink tulips behind. |
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Pink tulips and pansies near St. Pauls Cathedral. |
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The dome of St. Pauls Cathedral. |
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Another shot of the dome of St. Pauls Cathedral with the gold cross on top. |
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The "Blood Brothers" marquee at The Phoenix Theatre. What a wonderful show!!! |
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The "Les Miserables" marquee at Queens Theatre. |
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